Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after a court in Barcelona found him guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a statement from the court said on Wednesday [Jul 06].

The court also sentenced the Argentine soccer player's father, Jorge, to 21 months in prison for the same three crimes. The sentence can be appealed through the Spanish supreme court, the statement said.

BREAKING: Lionel Messi given 21 month prison sentence for tax evasion but will NOT serve time behind bars. pic.twitter.com/NbTo5VclpR